Joist brace



ug. 20, 1957 H, E HORNER 2,803,045

JOIST BRACE Filed Nov. l2, 1955 Q/fever@ @1/1/ JVM/'fafa TSM/wey United States Patent O JOIST BRACE Harlow E. Horner,` Chicago, Ill.

Application November 12, 1953, Serial No. 391,537 1 Claim. (Cl. 20w-,9)`

This invention relates to a joist brace and more particularly to a preformed metal joist brace which need not be cut for individual jobs.

In framing a building one of the most time-consuming jobs is the fitting of cross bracing or bridges for the floor and ceiling joists. These joists are theoretically equally spaced at distances of the order of 16 inches on centers but in practice the actual spacing may vary considerably, often as much as an inch in either direction. As a result, it is necessary to measure and cut braces individually for each pair of joists. These must then be nailed in place and it is rather diiiicult to properly secure both ends of the brace due to the close spacing of the joists. In addition, the bracing must be installed before the oor or other covering is laid on the tops of the joists in order to provide suiicient room for the carpenter to nail the upper ends of the braces.

A metal joist brace which eliminates some of these problems has heretofore been used. This brace comprised a metal member which was sharply pointed at one end so that it might be jabbed into one joist while the other end was provided with means for securing it to the adjacent joist. One rather serious difficulty has developed with this prior brace however. The sharpened end of the brace cuts deeply into the side of the joist into which it is inserted and `as the building settles and the joists dry out the bracing has a tendency to loosen. This of course is undesirable as it weakens the structure and gives rise to squeaky floors. I have devised and disclose and claim herein an improved joist brace which is quite easy to install and which will not loosen in use.

One feature of the invention is that it comprises an elongated member having first and second end portions, means at one end for engaging a substantial surface of one joist in a direction transverse to the grain thereof, and means at the other end for securing the member to an adjacent joist. Another feature is that the brace comprises an elongated channel member and an edge portion of the channel engages a substantial surface of one of the joists in a direction transverse to the grain thereof.

A further feature is that the brace comprises an elongated U-shaped channel member which has spaced side portions and a connecting web, there being a pair of prongs formed at the junctures of the side portion and the web and engageable with one of the joists, the side portions at this end of the brace being cut at an angle to engage a substantial surface of the joist in a direction transverse to the grain thereof. And another feature is that the opposite end of the channel member includes a ange disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the member by means of which it may be secured to an adjacent joist.

Further features and advantages will be readily apparent from the following specification and from the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a floor showing a plurality of joist braces in place;

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Figure 2 is a perspective view of the joist brace of this invention;

Figure 3 isa fragmentary side elevation with a portion broken away, showing a joist brace installed between a pair-of joists;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4`4 ofl Figure 3; and b Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailed view of one end of the brace.

Referringnow to the drawings, Figure l s liows a pori tionl of a door, with joists10 ,v11V and 12 supporting floor-l ing 13. Joist braces 14 are interposed between each adjacent pair of joists in a suitable manner. As pointed out previously with conventional wooden braces which must be nailed at each end it is impractical to install the braces after the floor has been laid. Furthermore, where, as is often the case, the joists are not equally spaced the braces must individually be measured and fitted.

The joist brace as shown in Figures 2-5 comprises an elongated U-shaped channel member 14 having side portions or walls 14a and a connecting web 14b. At one end of the channel member a pair of prongs 15 are formed at the junctures of the side portions 14a with web 14b. These prongs are adapted to be inserted in one joist as by jabbing the end of the brace against the joist. The ends 14a are cut at a suitable angle to the plane of the web so that when the brace is installed the ends of the side portions engage a substantial area of the surface of the joist transverse to thegrain thereof. This is shown in Figure 3 where the ends of the sides 14a engage the surface of joist 11. Inasmuch as all lumber is normally cut with the grain running lengthwise of the board, when these braces are installed with the channel opening upwardly the ends 14a' of the side walls will engage the joist transverse to the grain as described. This prevents the prongs 15 from penetrating too deeply into the joist and eventually loosening. I have found that if the ends Aof the side walls 14a of the joist member are cut at an angle of 79 with respect to the web 14b of the member, the brace will operate satisfactorily for most applications.

The other end of the brace member is provided with a turned down flange 16 which may have a pair of openings 17 therein by means of which it is suitably secured to joist 10 as by nailing. A pair of prongs 16a are also provided in flange 16 for initially securing the brace in place. Flange 16 is preferably disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to web 14b of the channel so that it will be ush with joist 10 and will not have to be bent during installation.

In practice the braces may be installed either before o-r after the flooring is laid. As discussed above, one end of the brace is brought into engagement with one joist by jabbing the prongs 15 into it. The other end of the brace is then engaged by swinging the brace upwardly until prongs 16a engage the adjacent joist. The brace may then be secured in place by nailing flange 16 to the second joist. Of course both hands are free to facilitate the nailing. One length of brace may be used for a given joist spacing and will satisfactorily compensate for any normal variation in the spacing.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes therefore in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claim.

I claim:

A joist brace of the character described for bracing adjacent joists having sheathing on one side thereof, cornprising, a U-shaped channel having two spaced apart leg portions joined by a web portion and adapted to extend at an angle between the surface of one of said joists v) i adjacent said sheathing and the surface of the other of said joists remote from said sheathing, one end of said channel being formed at an angle, with said channel leg portions describing an obtuse angle ladjacent said web and an acute angle remote from the Web, there being al pair of spaced prongs formed at said one end of' the channel adjacent the intersection of the legs and web portions, said prongs being insertable in said one joist at points spaced from said sheathing by said leg portions with said end surfaces of said leg portions lying across the grain of said one joist, preventing excessive penetration of said prongs, and a flange formed on the other end of said channel member and extending from the web portion in a direction away from the leg portions and in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said end surfacesV 4 of the leg portions for securing the channel member to the other of said joists.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 267,385 Walter Nov. 14, 1882 918,949 Bertram Apr. 20, 1909 1,204,956 Day Nov. 14, 1916 2,247,024 Hurley June 24, 1941 2,442,726 Gstalder June 1, 1948 2,658,241 Houghton et al Nov. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 502,492 Canada May 18, 1954 

